Editors @ Mercury Lounge 1/20/06
Just what is it that distinguishes hype and buzz? Much like trying to define beauty or obscene, I have always been left with the vague maxim "I'll know it when I see it." Well, I am in debt to Editors for providing me with an evening that helped get me closer to pinning down this slippery, indie-geek issue: hype is what drew me to the Mercury knowing next to nothing of Editors' music. Buzz, on the other hand, is that crazy energy that made the air as dense as Mercury two mintues into set opener "Lights." Buzz induces smiles. Buzz doesn't like to leave the room until the band does-and even then, it lingers. Buzz, it seems, makes a jaded LES crowd feel that it's alright to openly let on that it is...wait for it... actually enjoying itself.
What you see on the pictured setlist is precisely what we got (click it to enlarge): short, sweet and to the point-no encore.
Editors didn't play a very long set, but then again they just didn't have to. Make no mistake, there was no battle tonight. There was no confontation, no adversity between "band with something to prove" and "crowd that has seen it all before." No, Editors played their first New York show to a hero's welcome. We like our Brits here, and Editors were wise in not giving us a chance to really question whether they are worth the fuss. With a performance this convincing (and that pesky hype/buzz issue resolved) there was little left to ponder.
Bathed in red light, generically named Tom Smith was anything but ordinary in his obvious confidence and poise. Sure, he borrows more than a page from the book of Chris Martin in his posturing and prodding, but why play "name the influence" (Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division, Coldplay, Interpol, a little Bloc Party...damn that game, I simply cannot resist). No band's sound materializes out of the ether and while Editors are not an exception to this rule, they remain a remarkably compelling and polished live act and convey an incredible amount of personality and passion.
Much like bees with pollen, these Brits took their hype and made sweet honey-buzz, coating us all in a sugary sweet afterglow we'd savor in our conversations while loitering in the Mercury and later while enjoying our Red Stripe at the afterparty at 85 Avenue A. More pics and review after the jump...
Tom spent most of his time at the mic with a guitar strapped around his neck, his voice a clear and piercing if simple instrument. His tall wiry frame, herk-jerk movement and dramatic poses behind his keyboard forced me to give him an "A" in Brit Pop Lead Man 101, while his band (guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, Russell Leetch on bass and a propulsive Ed Lay on drums) convincingly completed the picture of "The UK's On-the-Verge Band of the Moment." There was no shrinking from the weight of expectation at this Mercury hosted U.S. debut (ahem, ahem).
While these boys clearly delivered their dramatic songs with passion and conviction, Tom expressed his surprise at the crowd's enthusiasm more than once. He seems to have spoken for the band.
"We honestly didn't expect the crowd to be that vocal," drummer Ed Lay told me after the show. "You figure a New York crowd is going to cross their arms and make a long face. These guys were just great."
I honestly expected a bit more of that arm crossing then I saw, but then again, I expected to be one of those hack critics. Editors simply never gave any of us a chance. As many of the people I spoke to at the afterparty echoed, this was a band that was already bigger than the room.
(UPDATE: Please come back in March for an interview with EDITORS! More details here.)
Also on the bill was the surprisingly good local support of The Picture (who played more than one song that I knew from somewhere and loved) and The Head Set (who I spent some time with at the afterparty and were just as sincere and charismatic off stage as on it-check them out next week at the Crash Mansion for a free show and open bar). (NOTE: Does anyone know The Picture's link? Thank you, yeti.)
All in all, a memorable night by a promising band. Expect big things.
According to their bassist, Editors album is out in April.
Scroll on down for more pics...
The Head Set...
The Picture...(my best shot-I promise that they are photogenic)
More Editors...
Great review of Editors...I wish I could have checked them out!
Posted by: Sarab | January 21, 2006 at 12:04 PM
i knew it was going to be good when i whispered to my friend before the show, "i am going to go apeshit when they play fingers in the factory" and three guys in front next to me turned and all said that they were going to go nuts too and they taped the setlist down and we all saw it was last. i think i just walked to the subway saying, "oh my god" repeatedly. great review. great show.
Posted by: lj | January 21, 2006 at 01:17 PM
Hey everybody I want to express my gratitude to jrapps for calling me, a stranger, last minute with a ticket for this show and not gouging me on the price. He made this review possible and let me in on a great experience.
People, none of us are starving. If you are, you shouldn't be buying tickets to concerts, you should be buying bread.
Face value + shipping costs is fair.
Ticket karma is real...
See you out there.
Posted by: Village Indian | January 21, 2006 at 01:22 PM
lj: That did kinda set the tone, didn't it?
Posted by: One of the three guys | January 21, 2006 at 06:15 PM
great review...awesome shots. next time they're in town i am SO there.
Posted by: blackbird | January 21, 2006 at 11:16 PM
they were so awesome at Rothko too
Posted by: laura | January 22, 2006 at 11:52 AM
http://www.thepictureonline.com/
Yeah.. the Picture sounded great. I've been a long time fan of the Head Set also... and the Editors... oh man. They decimated my expectations.
Posted by: jerry | January 22, 2006 at 12:32 PM
Laura-yeah they really do sound amazing, so big. I thought the Mercury was an incredible place to see them, I can only imagine what Rothko was like!
Jerry-the opening acts were beyond expectation, I really enjoyed both of their sets. Everyone should go check them out. Are you going to the Crash Mansion, Yeti?
Posted by: Village Indian | January 22, 2006 at 02:45 PM
review up on the music slut!
Posted by: matt | January 22, 2006 at 08:41 PM
nice review! i bet we are in the same room all the time haha
Posted by: wes | January 23, 2006 at 01:22 AM
awesome review! good luck with the interview and keep up the good work!
Posted by: jrapps | January 24, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Great review. I was at the show right beside you, banging my head all night and so into the amazing show. I couldn't stay long enough for the after party or even to meet the band, but I was one of the lucky four who got a set list. Oh my, what a treat!
Posted by: Luis | February 22, 2006 at 11:02 PM
I remember that Luis! That show was lightning in a bottle. Here's hoping they can do it again at Webster!
Posted by: Amrit | February 23, 2006 at 10:21 AM
best band in the world deserve 2 be bigger luv ashley gee xxx
Posted by: | September 09, 2007 at 03:26 PM
dyen 2 hear them live tom has an amazing voice soo jealous edith bowman can hear it lol
Posted by: | September 09, 2007 at 03:27 PM